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KSP Investigates Nine Vehicle Double Fatality Collision on I-24

Date of News Release: 2/7/2018

Hopkinsville, KY (Christian County) – On Monday, February 5, 2018, at approximately 9:50 a.m., Kentucky State Police responded to a nine vehicle, double fatality collision located on I-24 at the eighty mile marker.

Preliminary investigation revealed the Christian County Sheriff’s Department was working a collision on I-24 westbound at approximately the seventy-nine mile marker. The westbound lanes of travel were closed and traffic was backed up to the eighty mile marker. James Lee, 39 years old of Mulberry, TN, was operating a 2000 Freightliner tractor and semi-trailer on I-24 westbound when he approached the stopped traffic.

Lee was unable to stop his tractor and semi-trailer, striking a 2015 Ford F-150 in the right lane. The F-150 was being operated by Mary Engrav, 55 years old of Waukon, IA. The front passenger seat was occupied by Barbara Winters-Kelly, 61 years old of Waterville, IA. The right rear passenger seat was occupied by Joan Lyons, 58 years old of Waukon IA. Ms. Engrav was pronounced deceased on scene by the Christian County Coroner. Ms. Winters-Kelly was transported by ambulance to Tennova Medical Center in Clarksville, TN for non-life threatening injuries. Ms. Lyons was flown by AirEvac helicopter to Vanderbilt Hospital in Nashville,TN, where she succumbed to her injuries.

The impact of the collision caused Ms. Engrav’s vehicle to strike the rear trailer portion of a 2016 Freightliner tractor and semi-trailer stopped in front of her. The Freightliner was being operated by Jeffrey Bartlett, 64 years old of Gray, GA. Mr. Bartlett was uninjured in the collision.

Mr. Lee’s vehicle then swerved into the left westbound lane of travel, striking a 2014 Chevrolet passenger car being operated by Ronald Logan, 79 years old of Lomax IL, a Honda passenger car operated by Lawrence Boykin, and a Kia Optima being operated by Alicia Sheerer, 29 years old of Princeton, KY. Mr. Logan, Mr. Boykin, and Ms. Sheerer were transported by ambulance to Jennie Stuart Medical Center for non-life threatening injuries.

The vehicles continued to collide with stopped vehicles, striking a 2011 Toyota passenger car being operated by Robert Kellogg Jr., 67 Years old of Hendersonville, TN, a 2014 Honda passenger car occupied by Wayne Goerss, 69 years old, and Kathy Goerss, 67 years old of St. Charles, MS, and into another commercial motor vehicle being operated by Jason Higgins, 44 years old of Elkton, KY. Mr. Kellogg Jr. was transported by ambulance to Jennie Stuart Medical Center for non-life threatening injuries, Ms. Goerss was transported Tennova Medical Center for non-life threatening injuries, and Mr. Higgins was uninjured.

The vehicles involved in the collision came to final rest in the westbound lanes of I-24. Mr. Kellogg Jr. and Ms. Sheerer’s vehicle remained in close proximity to Mr. Lee’s semi. All of the occupants of these vehicles were able to exit their vehicles with the assistance of bystanders prior to the vehicles being fully engulfed by flames.

Mr. Lee was transported to Jennie Stuart Medical Center, where he was treated for non-life threatening injuries. The collision remains under investigation by the Kentucky State Police.

Hopkinsville, KY (Christian County) – The Kentucky State Police are currently investigating a multiple vehicle collision that occurred on Interstate 24 westbound around the 79 mile marker, at approximately 9:50 a.m. One fatality has been confirmed at this time.